Introduction to Fundamentals of Epidemiology

1. Introduction to Fundamentals of Epidemiology

2. Scope of Epidemiology • The scope of Epidemiology Program is to: • To describe & analyze occurrence of diseases in human population • To study natural history and prognosis of health-related problems • To identify causes and risk factors

3. What is Epidemiology? Epidemiology is the Study of the occurrence & distribution of health-related diseases or events in specified populations, including the study of the determinants influencing such states, and the application of this knowledge to control the health problem. (Last JM ed. Dictionary of Epidemiology, Oxford University Press, 1995)

4. Components of Epidemiology • Disease Frequency : The core characteristics of epidemiology • are to measure the frequency of diseases, disability or death  • Distribution of Diseases : Based on time, place & person, epidemiology tenets help to identify if a specific disease has increased or decreased in the community • Determinants of Diseases: Identifying the major agents for  or causes of diseases

5. Basic Principles of Epidemiology • Time • When did the event happen? • Place • Where did the event happen? • Person • Who was affected?

6. Uses of Epidemiology • Epidemiology can be implemented in different verticals : • Public Health Surveillance - Examine causation • Field Investigation • Analytic Studies - Description of the health status of population • Evaluation of Different Diseases - Determine the relative importance of causes of illness, disability and deathHealthcare • Policy Development - Identifying risk factors

7. Crucial Role of Epidemiology • Epidemiology is crucial during Disasters Response : • To collect and analyze the health related data in affected community in order to guide the decision-makers to guide a rational responds Change Lives, Build a Healthier World - Public Health Programs

8. Clinician vs. Epidemiologist Job Prospects • Clinician • Deals with patients • Takes a history • Conducts a physical investigation • Makes a diagnosis • Proposes a treatment • Epidemiologist • Deals with population • Frames the question • Investigates • Draws conclusions • Gives recommendations • Evaluates programmes

9. Study Natural History Death Sub-clinical disease Clinical disease Good health Recovery

10. Description of health status of population Prevalence of anemia among adolescent girls, Mandla, MP, India 2005

11. Determine relative importance of causes of illness, disability & death

12. Evaluation of Interventions Good Health Ill Health Health promotion Preventive measures Public health services

13. Epidemiological Approaches • Descriptive epidemiology: • What is the problem? • Where & When does the problem occurs? • Analytical epidemiology: • Attempts to analyze the causes or determinants of disease • Intervention or experimental epidemiology: • Clinical or community trials to answer questions abouteffectiveness of control measures Interested to Study Epidemiology ? Get Started Now !

14. Measures of disease frequency • Prevalence • Number of cases of a disease in a defined population at specified point of time • Incidence • Number of new cases, episodes or events occurring over a defined period of time

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